FZ:OZ

Backed by a short-lived touring lineup (more or less the most trimmed-down his backing bands would ever get), Frank Zappa visited Australia in early 1976 to perform; some 26 years later, the Zappa Family Trust launched the "Vaulternative" line of releases of live shows with this. It's not exactly from one of the more celebrated or well-documented period of Zappa's work, but that's perhaps part of the point - illuminating that odd little gap between Bongo Fury and Zoot Allures.

It's not the most pristine of live releases, but it's perfectly serviceable and along with the Zagreb/Ljubljana live set from late 1975 constitutes some of the only material we've got from this particular era, and as with that set illustrates how Zappa tuned up his sound into a tighter, more muscular, more rock-oriented approach suited to this smaller band and forming the basis of the sound of Zoot Allures (even though only Bozzio of this lineup would remain standing by the time the sessiosn for that album were done).